Strain: Chocolate Haze (Royal Queen Seeds)
Medium: Coco bricks (Action budget bricks β hell yeah π°)
Light cycle: 12/12 from seed
Grow Style: No training, no stress β just flow
Grow Medium Prep: 500L of coco β never again in one go π
The Kickoff π
This run started off wild and direct β no veg time, straight into 12/12 with Chocolate Haze. I wanted a quick turnaround and thought, hey, why wait?
I germinated 14 seeds, hoping for at least 9 strong ladies. Ended up with 11 survivors β not bad! First few weeks were a bit chaotic: stretching due to low light (I tucked the seedlings under mature plants, which I do not recommend π), and the coco prep took way longer than expected. But hey, that's the game.
Early Veg/Bloom β Lessons Learned
pH: Started a bit high; some light green leaves at first
EC: Too low at 1.3 β they weren't having it. Upped to 1.7 and then to 2.1 later
Environment: New extractor dropped temps way down (25Β°C vs my usual 30Β°C). Thought it would help, but growth felt slower
Coco quirks: They looked overwatered at times, but coco is tricky like that. Eventually, roots hit the bottom and they took off
Around mid-March (3 weeks in), pistils showed up β officially the start of flower. I topped them once just before full bloom kicked in. Always a strange move, cutting healthy plants... but they bounced back beautifully. Nice and bushy now.
Week 2β5 Flowering πΈ
These ladies are small but mighty. Not tall, but full of energy. The canopy is tight and even (except for one shorty), and they've been stretching like crazy β classic sativa move. Had to raise the lights twice in two days. Iβll probably do some defoliation soon to slow things down a bit.
Environment is now dialed in:
Temp: 30Β°C with lights on
RH: Holding nicely in that humid sweet spot
COβ: Set to 500ppm (passive mostly, no full-on enrichment)
Feeding is now solid, color has recovered beautifully, and the buds are starting to form nice stacks. Iβve kept it low-stress β no nets, no heavy training, just letting them do their thing.
Observations & Setup Tweaks π§
Ventilation: Running the fan at just 30% now. Tent takes 18 seconds to vacuum seal, which tells me airflow is minimal β less COβ loss.
COβ System: Minimal usage at 500 ppm. Iβm not going all-out with gas bottles; itβs just there as a buffer.
Structure: These Chocolate Haze plants donβt get tall, but they do fill out nicely. Perfect for a space where height is limited.
Auto side note: One of the autos in the same tent is way taller, but less dense. Makes me appreciate the Chocolate Haze structure even more.
Current Status (April 17) π
Weβre deep into flower now β week 5, and it shows. Buds are swelling and resin production is kicking in. Nothing major to report (which is kind of the point of this grow β set and forget). Just a slight dry issue with one auto, which I adjusted on the Blumats.
Besides that? Happy plants, happy grower. π
Check the latest pics β they speak for themselves.
Final Thoughts (So Far) π
This Chocolate Haze grow has been chill, efficient, and surprisingly hands-off. The direct 12/12 schedule really works when you're going for a fast cycle with minimal hassle. And even though Iβm usually more into hybrids, this sativa-dominant lady is winning me over β the structure, the vigor, the smellβ¦ mmm.
Now we wait for the real magic β the last few weeks of flower. Trichomes incoming. π«β¨
Stay tuned for harvest updates β itβs gonna be sweet.
Feel free to drop any questions or thoughts. Always happy to share the love for the plant. π
Peace